June 10th, 2026
By Iqra Manzoor
LAHORE
When police rescued Hasna Bibi from a locked room inside her family’s home in Bahawalnagar, the 30-year-old woman was unable to even walk on her own. According to police officials and media reports, she had spent more than a decade confined by her family after marrying a man of her choice.
According to a First Information Report (FIR) registered on June 4 under Sections 342, 506, 148, and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code, Hasna Bibi, daughter of Muhammad Riaz and Khurshidan Bibi, a resident of Parbhatiwala village in McLeod Ganj, had allegedly been unlawfully confined by her parents and brothers.
The FIR states that police acted on information received through a village source, and raided the house where Hasna was allegedly being held. According to the complaint, her parents Muhammad Riaz and Khurshidan Bibi, and brothers Tariq, Sajid, Asif, and Tahir Mehmood were present and allegedly armed with sticks. Reportedly when the accused saw the police they fled the scene.
After being rescued, Hasna told police that she had married of her own free will but was later forced to divorce by her family. She alleged that she was subsequently confined in a room and repeatedly threatened with death.
Marriage, family pressure and confinement
Speaking to Voicepk, Bahawalnagar Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Zahid Rasool said Hasna had been confined inside her family’s home for approximately 10 to 12 years.
“The victim’s age is 30 years and she has been confined illegally in a room of her own house by her parents and brothers. It has been around 10-12 years since she was confined in the room,” Rasool said.
According to Rasool, local residents informed police about the alleged confinement, prompting the District Police Officer (DPO) to form a team to verify the information. “The woman was rescued after the case was verified,” he said.
Rasool also said that Hasna had contracted marriage of her own free will but was later forcibly divorced due to family pressure.
“The woman contracted marriage of her own free will. Later, Hasna was forcibly divorced because of her family, and she has been confined by her own family,” he added.
Found in critical condition
Police officials said Hasna was in critical physical condition when she was rescued.
“The condition of the victim was critical when police rescued her. She was not able to move on her own and was referred to THQ Manchanabad for treatment. Her condition is stable now,” Rasool told Voicepk.
He said Hasna’s father, Muhammad Riaz, and one of her brothers, Sajid Mehmood, have been arrested and sent to judicial lockup. The remaining accused, including her mother and other brothers, have secured bail.
“Police are ensuring a fair investigation of the case and further details will be shared once the investigation is completed,” he said.
Years of isolation and neglect
Some police sources told Voicepk that Hasna was allegedly not allowed to leave the room where she was confined and that her physical condition deteriorated steadily over the years. According to the sources, she was denied basic freedoms and remained isolated inside the house for much of the period she was allegedly held there.
These claims remain part of the ongoing investigation and have not been independently verified.
Additional details reported by Dawn, citing police officials and sources, suggest that Hasna may have endured years of severe neglect and inhumane living conditions.
According to the report, Hasna had left home and contracted a court marriage with a man from another caste around 12 years ago. She reportedly returned to her family home after a week under pressure from her parents and was later forcibly divorced through community influence.
The report further stated that she was allegedly locked inside a small room for years and, at different stages, kept in iron chains. The room reportedly had no washroom and remained locked from the outside.
Police sources also alleged that Hasna was denied freedom of movement and contact with others, while her access to adequate food, hygiene and basic care remained severely restricted. According to the report, years of neglect left her physically debilitated and unable to move independently when she was finally rescued.
Some police sources also told Voicepk that the arrested father and brother claimed Hasna suffered from mental health issues and would tear her clothes if allowed outside. They allegedly cited this as justification for her confinement. These claims remain unverified and form part of the ongoing investigation.
Beyond one family’s home
The allegations in Hasna Bibi’s case extend beyond unlawful confinement. If proven, they point to years of deprivation of liberty, isolation from society, denial of personal autonomy, and the withholding of basic human dignity.
The case also highlights the risks faced by women who exercise their right to choose their spouse in environments where family honour, social pressure and community influence can outweigh individual rights and freedoms.
As investigations continue, the case raises difficult questions about how such alleged abuse remained hidden for years and what protections exist for women whose lives are controlled behind closed doors by the very people expected to safeguard them.